Twist lock battery interface for cordless power tools
A battery pack attachment arrangement comprising a tool having a housing defining a hollow area and an opening into the hollow area. A first support track is defined within the housing hollow area. The first support track has a ramped surface extending between a first portion adjacent a first axial keyway and having a thickness t1 and a second portion spaced from the axial keyway and having a thickness t2 which is thicker than the thickness t1. A battery pack includes a main body and a stem portion extending from the main body. A first key extends radially from the battery pack stem portion. The first key is configured to be received axially through the first keyway and thereafter rotated along the first support track from the first portion to the second portion such that the first key supports the battery pack relative to the housing.
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The present invention relates to attachment arrangements for attaching battery packs to cordless electric devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a twist lock attachment arrangement for a battery pack.
Battery packs for powering cordless electric devices, such as portable drills, impact wrenches and the like, are well known. It has been found convenient to have the battery packs releasably mounted in the cordless devices, such as in or connected to the handle portions thereof, with a quick release type of latching arrangement so that the battery packs can be easily removed for recharging.
Generally, two types of battery pack attachment arrangements have been utilized, namely, a “stem pack” design and a “slide pack” design. With reference to
The battery pack 20 is configured to connect to the hollow handle 16 and provide power to the electric tool 10. The battery pack 20 has a top surface 22 with an extended portion 24 configured to be received in the hollow handle 16. The extended portion 24 typically houses on or more battery cells therein such that the battery pack 20 external portion can be made smaller and the hollow space within the handle 16 is utilized, rather than being a dead space. The upper end of the extended portion 24 has one or more contacts 26 configured to contact internal contacts (not shown) within the electric tool 10. Since the extended portion 24 extends into the hollow handle 16, the internal contacts can be provided within the hollow handle 16 spaced from the opening into the hollow handle 16, thereby protecting the internal contacts.
The attachment arrangement for the battery pack 20 includes one or more biased latches 28. Each latch 28 is configured to engage a shoulder or the like (not shown) within the hollow handle 16. To attach the battery pack 20 to the electric tool 10, the extended portion 24 of the battery pack 20 is linearly inserted into the hollow handle 16 until the latches 28 snap into engagement with the respective shoulders within the hollow handle 16. To remove the battery pack 20, a push button 30 is associated with each latch 28. Depression of the push button 30 disengages the latch 28 from the respective shoulder.
When the battery pack 20 is connected with the electric tool 10, the latches 28 are directly burdened with the whole weight of the battery pack 20. Over time, the continuous load on the latches 28 and respective shoulders causes the latches 28 to wear out and may also cause the handle halves 17A and 17B to spread apart, which results in the battery pack 20 being less securely connected. As a result, the battery pack 20 may have a less reliable electrical connection or may be subject to inadvertent disconnection from the tool 10. Additionally, even if the latches 28 have not worn, the battery pack 20 may still be subject to inadvertent disconnection if the push buttons 30 are inadvertently depressed.
Referring to
The attachment arrangement for the battery pack 20′ includes rails 32 on opposed sides of the battery pack 20′ which define opposed slots 34. The slots 34 are configured to receive rails 19 provided on opposed sides of the tool handle 16′. To attach the battery pack 20′ to the tool 10′, the battery pack 20′ is slid transversely to the axis of the handle 16′, as indicated by arrow A in
The present invention provides in at least one aspect a battery pack attachment arrangement comprising a tool having a housing defining a hollow area and an opening into the hollow area. A first support track is defined within the housing hollow area. The first support track has a ramped surface extending between a first portion adjacent a first axial keyway and having a thickness t1 and a second portion spaced from the axial keyway and having a thickness t2 which is thicker than the thickness t1. A battery pack includes a main body and a stem portion extending from the main body. A first key extends radially from the battery pack stem portion. The first key is configured to be received axially through the first keyway and thereafter rotated along the first support track from the first portion to the second portion such that the first key supports the battery pack relative to the housing.
The present invention provides in another aspect a battery pack attachment arrangement comprising a tool having a housing defining a hollow area and an opening into the hollow area. A battery pack includes a main body and a stem portion extending from the main body, the stem portion being configured to be received in the hollow area. The stem body has a stem diameter and the battery pack contacts define a maximum battery pack contact diameter which is less than the stem diameter. The housing supports a pair of tool contacts configured to align with the battery pack contacts, the tool contacts biased radially inward to define a tool contact minimum diameter which is less than the battery pack contact diameter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention.
Referring to
A tool contact ring 60 is positioned within the hollow area 56 and supports one or more circumferential contacts 62. The tool contact ring 60 may be formed as a separate component secured within the tool housing 52, may be formed integrally with the tool housing 52, or may be omitted, with the contacts 62 being secured directly to the tool housing 52. The contacts 62 are electrically interconnected with the electrical components of the tool 50. Such interconnection may take various forms which are known in the art. The interconnections are not illustrated in the drawings for clarity. The contacts 62 are configured to engage corresponding battery pack contacts 136, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.
The tool housing 52 of the present embodiment includes an internal rib structure which defines a plurality of axial keyways 70 and 72 and a plurality of longitudinal support tracks 80 and 82. The keyways 70 and 72 are configured to receive keys 120, 122, 124, 126 during axial insertion of the battery pack stem portion 104 through the opening 58 and into the hollow area 56. The longitudinal support track 80 is configured to support keys 120 and 124 while the longitudinal support track 82 is configured to support keys 122 and 126. The tool housing 52 also defines one or more latch stops 90 within the hollow area 56 configured to engage a releasable latch member 140. The support keys 122, 122, 124, 126, latch 140, keyways 70, 72, support tracks 80, 82 and latch stops 90 will be described in more detail hereinafter.
A continuous support ring 98 is preferably provided about the tool housing 52 adjacent to the opening 58. As illustrated in
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the stem portion 104 has a cylindrical body 132 extending from the main housing 102 to an end cap 134. A pair of opposed openings 135 are provided in the body 132 adjacent to the end cap 134. The number and position of the openings 135 may be varied. The openings 135 are configured to expose the battery contacts 136 which are electrically interconnected with the battery cells 150. As illustrated in
Referring to
As seen in
Alternatively, or in addition to the above methods, an alignment key 127 may be provided along the stem portion 104. The alignment key 127 may be provided along a circumferential position which aligns with an alignment keyway 74 in the housing 52 (see
In the illustrated embodiment, the support keys 120, 122 have a different circumferential width than the support keys 124, 126 and an alignment key 127 is provided. The inclusion of both features provides a voltage lockout feature in addition to the orientation feature. That is, the specific configuration and position of the support keys 120-126 and the alignment key 127 will represent a battery pack 100 having a particular voltage. The support keys 120-126 and alignment key 127 will only be receivable in tools 50 designed to utilize the particular voltage. For example, the configuration illustrated in solid lines in
Referring again to
Referring to
Referring to
As shown in
Having described the components of the preferred embodiments of the attachment arrangement of the present invention, attachment of a battery pack 100 relative to the housing 52 will be described with reference to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be understood that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims cover all such variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A battery pack attachment arrangement comprising:
- a tool having a housing defining a hollow area and an opening into the hollow area;
- a first support track defined within the housing hollow area, the first support track having a ramped surface extending between a first portion adjacent a first axial keyway and having a thickness t1 and a second portion spaced from the axial keyway and having a thickness t2 which is thicker than the thickness t1;
- a battery pack including a main body and a stem portion extending from the main body; and
- a first key extending radially from the battery pack stem portion, wherein the first key is configured to be received axially through the first keyway and thereafter rotated along the first support track from the first portion to the second portion such that the first key supports the battery pack relative to the housing.
2. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 1 wherein the tool includes a head portion and a handle depending therefrom and wherein the housing hollow area is defined within the handle.
3. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a continuous support ring positioned about the tool housing adjacent to the opening.
4. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 3 wherein the housing includes a channel configured to receive the support ring.
5. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 3 wherein the support ring is formed into a continuous member prior to positioning about the tool housing.
6. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 3 wherein the support ring is formed with open ends which are attached after the support ring is positioned about the tool housing.
7. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 1 wherein the battery pack main body and the battery pack stem portion each house at least one battery cell.
8. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 1 wherein the battery pack stem portion includes a stem body defining a pair of contact openings aligned with associated battery pack contacts.
9. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 8 wherein the stem body has a stem diameter and the battery pack contacts define a maximum battery pack contact diameter which is less than the stem diameter.
10. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 9 wherein the housing supports a pair of tool contacts configured to align with the battery pack contacts, the tool contacts biased radially inward to define a tool contact minimum diameter which is less than the battery pack contact diameter.
11. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 8 wherein the housing supports a pair of tool contacts configured to align with the battery pack contacts, each tool contact including a fixed end and a free end.
12. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 11 wherein each tool contact extends from the fixed end to the free end in a first circumferential direction and the battery pack is rotated in the first circumferential direction as the first key is moved from the first portion to the second portion.
13. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 12 wherein each battery pack contact includes a sloped portion followed in the first circumferential direction by an arcuate portion such that a respective tool contact moves radially outward along the sloped portion as the battery pack is rotated in the first circumferential direction.
14. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 13 wherein the sloped portions are made from a non-conductive material.
15. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 1 wherein a second key extends radially from the battery pack stem portion at a position circumferentially spaced from the first key.
16. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 15 wherein the second key is configured to be aligned with a second axial keyway.
17. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 16 wherein the first and second keys are supported on the first support track.
18. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 17 wherein the first support track has a second ramped surface extending between a third portion adjacent the second axial keyway and having a thickness t1 and a fourth portion spaced from the second axial keyway and having a thickness t2 which is thicker than the thickness t1.
19. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 16 wherein the first key has a first circumferential width and the second key has a second circumferential width distinct from the first circumferential width such that the battery pack must be oriented in a given orientation to facilitate passage of the first and second keys into the respective axial keyways.
20. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 16 wherein the first and second keys are circumferentially asymmetrically positioned about the stem such that the battery pack must be oriented in a given orientation to facilitate passage of the first and second keys into the respective axial keyways.
21. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 16 wherein the configuration of the first and second keys and the first and second axial keyways corresponds to a particular battery voltage such the battery pack can only be attached to tools utilizing the particular voltage.
22. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 15 wherein an alignment key extends radially from the battery pack stem portion at a position circumferentially between the first and second keys, the alignment key configured to be received axially in an alignment keyway.
23. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 22 wherein the configuration of the first and second keys, the alignment key, the first and second axial keyways and the alignment keyway corresponds to a particular battery voltage such the battery pack can only be attached to tools utilizing the particular voltage.
24. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 16 wherein a third key extends radially from the battery pack stem portion at a position circumferentially aligned with the first key such that the first and third keys are configured for axial passage through the first axial keyway and a fourth key extends radially from the battery pack stem portion at a position circumferentially aligned with the second key such that the second and fourth keys are configured for axial passage through the fourth axial keyway.
25. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 24 wherein the first and second keys are supported on the first support track and the third and fourth keys are supported on a second support track.
26. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 1 wherein the battery pack further comprises at least one circumferential latch configured to releasably secure the battery pack against rotation relative to the housing.
27. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 26 wherein the circumferential latch includes a latch body pivotally attached to the battery pack and moveable between a first position wherein a latch stop surface engages a housing stop surface and a second position wherein the latch stop surface is rotatably clear of the housing stop surface.
28. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 27 wherein the latch body is biased to the first position.
29. The battery pack attachment arrangement of claim 28 wherein a release button is configured to pivot the latch body two the second position.
Type: Application
Filed: May 8, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 8, 2007
Patent Grant number: 7619387
Applicant:
Inventors: Ryan Amend (Fanwood, NJ), Warren Seith (Bethlehem, PA)
Application Number: 11/429,860
International Classification: H02J 7/00 (20060101);